Life-belt.



T. B. BUTTERS.

LIFE BELT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14', 1912.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Qua/nu:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMA B. BUTTEBS, NEW YORK, N. Y.

, LIFE-BELT. 1 I

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS B. BU'rrERs, a subject oftho King of Great Britain, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Life- Belts, of which the following is a specificatlOIl. i

This invention relates to life belts and its object is to provide a belt which may be worn by the wearer and provided with a bag having the same shape as the belt and normally compressed against same so as to offer no' interference with the user, which may be inflated by a tube conveniently carried so as to float the wearer when in the water.

The belt is provided with loops supporting the bag and other details and objects of the invention will be more fully described in the following specification, set forth in the claim and illustrated in the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is'a perspective view ofthe improved belt. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view inflated. Fig. 3 is a The belt 5 may be of canvas, leather or similar material and has at one endbuckles 6 and at the other endcooperating straps 7 in order to draw the belt together and hold it about the waist of the wearer. The buckles and straps may be secured by means of theleather ends 8, and at suitable points around the belt loops 9 are provided and which may be expanded to a shape shown in Fig. 2 or collapsed when the bag 10 is not inflated. The bag 10 may be of rubher or similar material, oritmay be of wa:

ter proof fabric and conforms in shape with the belt 5 and is held against it by means of the loop 9. One end of the bag 10 is provided with a tube 11 having the mouthpiece 12 carrying a check valve so that when the bag is inflated, the air cannot escape,-

and this tubepasses from the bag through the belt and end piece8 to the inside of the belt so that when the latter is worn, the tube may be passed around the body of the wearer and thereby protected. When the bag is worn and inflated, it is held in place around the belt and within the loops by means of the string 13 carried by straps 14 attached to one end of the bag, and this cord may be secured to the other end of the belt or the adjacent loop if desired. 4

In case the life of the wearer of this belt is endangered, he may immediately inflate the bag so that on entering the water he is readily floating by it or he may be able .to inflate the bag while in the water so that same may buoy him.

It is obvious that the invention may be otherwise modified or altered without departing from the essential features above described. For instance, the loops 9 may be made continuous as an enveloping portion to fit around the bag and protect it.

What I claim as new is In a life belt, the combination with a fiat belt of flexible material having straps secured to one end thereof and'buckles secured to straps secured to the opposite end thereofwherebv the belt may be adjustably supported upon a person, and a plurality of loops disposed at spaced intervals .upon tbe belt and extending from the outside surface thereof; of a flexible, elastic waterproof bag U-shaped in cross section and of a length to extend substantially from one end of the belt to the other, said baghaving its flat side disposed against the belt and its curved side disposed outwardly and supported by the loops provided upon the belt, and having an elastic tube suitably secured at one end thereof for inflating the bag, said tube having a mouth piece and check valve whereby the air may be forced into said bag and confined, said adapted for admitting said tube whereby the tube may be disposed around the body of a person within the belt, and'means for securing the ends of the bag to the said loops.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. THOMAS B. 'BUTTERS.

Witnesses JAMES F. Dmsmmm, Gno. A. BYRNE.

Patented Nov. 4., 1913.

Application-filed May 14, 1912. Serial No. 697,232.

belt having an opening 

